Lifestyle

Nigerians mark Eid festivities navigating economic woes

Nigerians marked the Muslim festival of Eid al-Adha on Wednesday with prayers, celebrations and family dinners as many navigated high inflation, a steep currency devaluation and growing transport costs.. Eid al-Adha is one of the two largest Muslim celebrations and is meant to mark the annual pilgrimage to Mecca.

Gunfire shatters Eid prayer for peace by fed-up Sudanese

Hundreds gathered in the Sudanese capital Khartoum Wednesday to pray for peace on the first day of the Eid al-Adha Muslim holiday, but gunfire shattered the brief respite, residents said.. Similar prayer gatherings took place outside Khartoum, including in Jazira region where many have fled from the capital.

Quake temporarily shutters Siena cathedral in Italy

An earthquake in the Italian region of Tuscany sparked the brief evacuation of the cathedral and closure of museums Wednesday in the tourist hotspot of Siena.. The cathedral was evacuated for about an hour, its press office told AFP. The quake caused bits of plaster to fall off the famous monument, according to Italian media reports, but the cathedral's press office would not confirm.

Elderly Muslims perform hajj after restrictions lifted

Alsafi Mansur's "lifelong" wish to take part in the hajj pilgrimage came true this year, after Saudi Arabia lifted curbs that kept the elderly away from the compulsory Islamic ritual.. "My dream of hajj has come true again before I die," said the 76-year-old.  ht/ho/th/hkb

Senegalese go wild for prized 'maad' fruit

Outside a bustling fruit market in Senegal's Dakar region, three trucks are blocking the road while a dozen men sweat to unload the precious cargo.. At the Sandika market in Pikine, workers laboured to empty the trucks that had just arrived, sorting the maad according to ripeness.

Lucky to come home: Growing up trans in Brazil can be deadly

Wearing a pink dress that matches the bow in her hair, eight-year-old Agatha flashes a smile that belies all she has been through as a trans child growing up in Brazil.. Last year, she founded an organization called My Trans Child, which has nearly 600 members.

Debate sizzles as meat eating hits new low in Germany

Florian Busmann used to enjoy sausages and steak on the barbecue in summer, but these days he prefers meat substitutes and grilled vegetables like aubergines and peppers.. Despite being known for their love of sausages and schnitzel, Germans have been steadily eating less meat over the past few years.

South Koreans get younger as traditional age system dropped

Lee Jung-hee was set to turn 60 next year but South Korea dropped its traditional age counting system Wednesday, so the Seoul-based housewife just got a year younger -- and she's thrilled.. "It feels good," Lee, a Seoul-based housewife, told AFP.  "For people like me, who were supposed to turn 60 next year, it makes you feel like you're still young," she laughed.

Crowds 'stone the devil' in final hajj ritual

Massive crowds of robed Muslims gathered for the "stoning of the devil" ritual in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday as the biggest hajj pilgrimage since the pandemic draws to a close.. The devil-stoning marks the start of the three-day Eid al-Adha holiday, celebrated by Muslims by buying and slaughtering livestock to commemorate Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son.

Fewer buyers for Eid camels as Pakistanis count the rupees

Teenager Amanullah Khan teeters on his tiptoes, daubing towering camels with festive henna patterns to entice Eid al-Adha customers at a market near the Pakistan capital.. Hundreds of farmers have camped at livestock markets between Islamabad and its twin city Rawalpindi for two weeks, hoping to sell animals ahead of the annual holy festival starting Thursday in Pakistan.